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Updated: May 31, 2026
07:20
Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
Published on: February 4, 2018
[Ocular Lyme disease occurring during childhood: five case reports]
A Sauer1, Y Hansmann, B Jaulhac
1Service d'Ophtalmologie, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, CHU de Strasbourg, BP 426, 67091 Strasbourg cedex, France. arnaud.sauer@chru-strasbourg.fr
Journal Francais D'Ophtalmologie
|June 24, 2011
Summary
Lyme borreliosis (LB) can cause various eye problems in children. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment lead to full recovery without permanent vision loss, even in endemic areas.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a prevalent tick-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Ophthalmologic manifestations of LB in children are not widely discussed.
- This paper reviews childhood LB-associated ocular conditions.
Observation:
- Six children with LB-associated eye conditions were treated in a Strasbourg University Hospital from 2000-2010.
- Diagnosis involved medical history, ocular/systemic findings, Borrelia antibody tests, and exclusion of other causes.
- Ocular manifestations included uveitis, abducens palsies, optic neuropathy, and orbital myositis.
Findings:
- All diagnosed children had positive Borrelia antibody tests and systemic signs like arthritis or erythema migrans.
- Treatment involved antibiotics, with some cases also receiving anti-inflammatory therapy.
- Complete resolution of ocular symptoms within 2-12 weeks was observed in all patients, with no relapses.
Implications:
- LB should be considered in children with unexplained ocular symptoms, particularly in endemic regions.
- Serological testing for Borrelia is crucial for diagnosis.
- Prompt antibiotic treatment can prevent permanent visual impairment in pediatric Lyme disease.
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